Touching the Civil power, as kings1 Emperors, Princes, Counsellors, Magistrates, and all other like, which exercise any public office, by what name soever they be called, we are bound to obey them by the word of God in all things that are not contrary to God: yea God threateneth vengeance against all those that are disobedient, stubborn, and rebellious against the Magistrates. Moreover we are taught by Gods word, that the Magistrate is ordained of God, and is for his sake to be honoured, and to be acknowledged in his Ministers, ordained for the wealth of good men, but for the punishment of evil men: and that we must love them as fathers, giving unto them their due honour, tribute loyalty, faithfulness, and other bodily services which appertain unto them, and that with a good hart and will faithfully. And thus are we taught by the word of God, Math. 17. and 22. and 1. Peter. 2. Romans. 13. and Titus. 1. And in the Epistle to Timothy Paul commandeth that we make faithful ⟨p. 143⟩prayers unto God for those which have the government over us. And even as the Apostles for Gods cause were obedient unto the Magistrates, so is it meet that Bishops and those which govern in the Church, as teachers and preachers, be obedient to the Civill Magistrate also, like as Jeremiah in his first Chapter teacheth: but yet in such sort as they teach the word of God freely, But if any will not thus do, then let them read the second Epistle of Saint Peter, the second Chapter, and the Epistle of S. Jude, and see what the Apostles do think and judge of such. And against those which resist their Magistrates, and so become worse than thieves or murderers, many sharp things are written in the holy Scripture, and in the Proverbs of Solomon.
Touching the Ciuil power, as kings1 Emperours, Princes, Counsellors, Magistrates, and all other lyke, which exercise any publique office, by what name soeuer they bée called, wée are bound to obey them by the worde of God in all things that are not contrarie to God: yea God threatneth vengeaunce agaynst all those that are disobedient, stubborne, and rebellious agaynst the Magistrates. Moreouer wée are taughte by Gods worde, that the Magistrate is ordeyned of God, and is for hys sake to be honored, and to be acknowledged in hys Ministers, ordeined for the wealth of good men, but for the punishment of euill men: and that wée muste loue them as fathers, geuing vnto them their due honor, tribute loyaltie, faythfulnesse, and other bodily seruices which appertayne vnto thē, and that with a good hart and wil faithfully. And thus are we taughte by the worde of God, Math. 17. and 22. and 1. Peter. 2. Romanes. 13. and Titus. 1. And in the Epistle to Timothe Paule commaundeth that wée make faythfull ⟨p. 143⟩prayers vnto God for those which haue the gouernemente ouer vs. And euen as the Apostles for Gods cause were obediente vnto the Magistrates, so is it méete that Byshoppes and those which gouerne in the Churche, as teachers and preachers, bée obedient to the Ciuill Magistrate also, like as Jeremie in his firste Chapter teacheth: but yet in suche sorte as they teache the worde of God fréely, But if any wyll not thus doo, then let them reade the seconde Epistle of Sainct Peter, the seconde Chapter, and the Epistle of S. Jude, and sée what the Apostles doo thinke and iudge of suche. And agaynst those which resiste their Magistrates, and so become worse than théeues or murtherers, many sharpe thinges are written in the holy Scripture, and in the Prouerbes of Salomon.
- 1The civill Magistrate.The ciuill Magistrate.
